Bishop Dennis V. Proctor 97th Bishop in succession of the A.M.E. Zion Church was elected July 18, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a native of Buffalo, New York. He received the Bachelor of Arts (Summa Cum Laude) from Livingstone, College, Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary, A Clinical Pastoral Experience Diploma from Western Reserve Psychiatric Habilitation Center, Juris Doctor from Ohio State University College of Law, and a Doctor of Ministry (Samuel D. Proctor/Otis D. Moss Fellow) from the United Theological Seminary. He was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr., Board of Preachers at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia. He was honored by his Alma Mater by receiving the Doctor of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary and Livingstone College. Bishop Proctor has been a featured lecturer at the Prestigious Hampton University, Hampton Minister's Conference. Judson Press. In addition one of his sermons is published in the book of "Outstanding Black Sermons Volume 4" Judson Press.

He has served as a Fellow to Study the Presidency of the United States, a North Carolina Legislative Intern, North Carolina p0litical Leadership Fellow, Clerk for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Lt. Governor of American Bar Association Law Student Division, President of the Ohio State University Black Graduate and Professional Student Caucus. He is the Founding President of the Congress of National Black Churches, Baltimore Affiliate. He serves on his denomination's Connectional Budget Board. He co-authored "Christians Under Construction" with Dr. Staccato Powell.

Bishop Proctor has held three pastorates, St James A.M.E. Zion, Massilon, Ohio, St Luke A.M.E. Zion, Wilmington, North Carolina, and his most recent before being elevated to the Episcopacy was the historic Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church in Baltimore, Maryland. In Atlanta, Georgia on July 18, 2008 at the 48th Session of the General Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church He was elected by the world church and consecrated the 97th Bishop in succession of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. His geographical area is the Western Episcopal District, which is inclusive of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon-Washington, and Southwest Rocky Mountain. He is a fifth generation preacher and the son of the late Rev. Emory C. And Rosie T. Proctor He is married to Deborah Diane Wilson, and they reside in Ellicott, Maryland. They have four children, a daughter-in-law and one granddaughter.

We invite the community to join in with us for this Welcome Celebration on November 14, 2008 at 7:00 P.M., at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel at 6333 Bristol Parkway, Culver City, Ca. For any further details please do not hesitate to contact the Committee Chairman Rev. George E. Kent (310) 412-1674. The Rev. Dr. Eugene Harvey, Presiding Elder Los Angeles District.